Wow! Week nine already. By the time you receive this
newsletter the majority of teacher/parent interim conversations would have
concluded. We value having this time to talk with parents around the
progress of their child/ren. By working together we can achieve the best
outcomes for your children. I strongly encourage you to keep communicating
with your child’s class teacher at regular intervals

This will be our last newsletter for this term and I hope
you have a lovely break and can find time to relax together as a family.
School recommences on Tuesday 18th April as
Monday 17th April is a public holiday.

Duty of Care

All staff at Moreton Downs School take their duty of care
very seriously. We have set procedures and detailed timetables and duty
rosters to ensure all staff follow established processes and attend to
areas of need. During school hours one area we always have staff on duty is
our playground equipment.

Presently staff are very frustrated around the
supervision of students before and after school. We have only limited staff
on duty before and after school and at these times we do not allocate a
staff member to supervise the playground equipment. There is an expectation
that students do not play on the equipment before and
after school. The only exception is if parents are directly supervising their own children. Even with this
condition we are still having children on the equipment who are
unsupervised and/or are not the children of the adult supervising. I am
requesting all parents meet the expectation of supervising just their own children before and after school. I do
not wish to have to close these areas before and after school but meeting
our duty of care is crucially important to us. Please be aware staff may
approach children and their parents to check they are being supervised.
They are doing so to meet their commitment to their duty of care
obligation. Please help us by meeting this expectation and work
respectfully with our staff when approached.

P&C Help

Your help in driving our school forward can be achieved
by participating on our P&C Association. The meetings of the P&C
for the remainder of the year are all on Wednesday evenings, once a month
from 6:30pm in the library.

Remember all the funds raised go to the ‘air-condition the school project’.

School Disco

A huge thank you to the P&C and the many staff
volunteers who made our disco such a success.

Games, Toys, Collector Cards and Electronic Devices

In the last newsletter I reminded our community that
bringing of toys, games, collector cards and electronic devices to school
is not permitted. We have seen arise in such
items at school and an equal rise in fights over items, lost items,
destroyed items and bad trades causing upset children. Please remind your
child that such devises are not permitted at school. Should they wish to
bring them to school they MUST be checked into the office in the morning
and collected at the end of the day. The school takes no responsibility for
devices bought into school.

Attendance – Our goal 93%

We are into week eight and attendance, at 93.7%, is proudly above our goal. This is up over 1 % for the
same period last year. We look forward to even greater improvement as we
progress our attendance reward system.

Cross-Country

Please be advised that we have a change of date for this
year’s inter-house cross country.

The new date is Friday 31st of
March. For more information please see Mr Dunn.

Classes are doing practice in preparation.

School Improvement

An essential strategy at any school is ensuring our
teachers have clear and collaboratively developed plans. To that end we
have recently been releasing each teacher for a full day, in year level
cohorts, to allow them time to complete this planning. Led by our Heads of
Curriculum this essential work is important to providing a clear direction
for student classroom learning at Moreton Downs.

PBL - Behaviour

2017 continues to be a great year for behaviour. Data to
date confirms this. Key data includes:

Just 23 (4.7%) of students own 70.6% of the poor behaviour data.

An outstanding 616 (90.6%) students had no
behaviour data entries at all.

Many of the processes we have in place are working
effectively and providing our school with a calm and organised place for
students to come each day. At the start of the year, via our PBL team, we
implemented new tracking and reporting forms for class and playground
behaviour. So that these are evident in our school behaviour plan we have
had to review the plan and add these. This was endorsed at the last P&C
meeting.

Look out for our Behaviour Bee around the school. He is
our new behaviour mascot.

School Sport

We are deeply into our school sport program and our
committed staff volunteers continue to support the students. We are
eternally grateful for without these staff there would be no school
sport.

Please be reminded that a student’s
permission to participate in any school event, including school sport, may
be withdrawn if their behaviour is not satisfactory.

We wish that only trustworthy, respectful, reliable and
valued ambassadors represent our school.

Dates

Last Day of Term 1 Friday 31st March

Public Holiday – Monday 17th April

First Day Term 2 – Tuesday 18th April

Have a great fortnight

Regards

Paul Pickering
Principal

From the Deputies

Attendance awards

Assembly last week saw our positive reward program aimed
at improving attendance at our school commence.

The Best attendance for the last fortnight Award went to
Year 1 LW

The Class with the most improved attendance went to Year
2 SM

Reminder each term the class in the school with the
highest attendance percentage for the period will receive a free Pizza
Lunch.

Once per term all students with 93% attendance or higher
will go in the draw to win a $25.00 tuckshop voucher. There is one voucher
for each year level

Be at school It’s magic

School Disco

It was great to see the number of students, staff and
parents at the disco. Most of the students were very well behaviour and had
a great time dancing the night away. The night ended well with all the
students and parents exiting the disco with smiles and lots of excited
conversations. Thank you to the P&C and their many helpers for making
the night a success.

Prep Levy

Reminder that if you have not kept up to date with Prep
Levy payments please attend to these before the end of term.

Celebration Day

Reminder celebration day notes have gone home. Please
make sure you pay the required $9 which covers the costs of the three
terms. P- 3 Celebration Day is Thursday 30th March students are able to
wear sun safe free dress.

Green Up Clean up Australia

Moreton Downs State School has lots of hard workers both
in and out of the classrooms. Last Tuesday on the 7th March in the
afternoon at Moreton Downs State School, we participated in the Clean-up
Australia Day. Students and staff took the time to show pride in their
school by making sure our school is clean and tidy.

Living Eggs

The Ready to Hatch Program has finished with the arrival
of 20 chirping chicks. Each class spent time observing the eggs in the
incubators. All students were eagerly waiting for the first chick to burst
out of its egg. The students are always delighted to watch the hatching
chicks and observe their development.

Hippity Hop

Quick reminder Prep Easter Hat Parade is on Thursday 30th
March at 12.30 pm in the Hall. All students will receive a sticker for
their excellent work with their Easter Hat. Please help your child make an
Easter Hat for the Parade. See your child’s teacher if you do not want your
child to participate.

Moreton Downs State School the place with lots of
smiles.

Senior Parade Attendance Awards

Congratulations to 6MG for Best
Attendance and 5JP for Most Improved
Attendance. The trophies and certificates will be proudly displayed
in each of these classes for a fortnight.

Last Monday 16 School Leaders headed off to the Brisbane
Convention Centre for the Halogen’s Imagination – Australia’s Premier Youth
Leadership Event. This event is held each year to inspire our great leaders
into becoming leaders of the future. The insert below is from Shekinah:

Halogen Day was a blast! It was full
of energy and fun. I don’t even know where to start because every single
second, minute and hour I was there was terrific. All of the speakers who
were on stage probably inspired thousands of students there because it sure
di inspire me to believe in incredible things. To be honest, the speaker
who inspired me the most was Jade Hamiester because the stories and
adventures were intriguing. Especially the story she told where she wanted
to give up on sports yet she didn’t which made me believe you can do
anything and never give up on it. Throughout the whole day the message I
received from all speakers was inspiration and that you should“Believe it to achieve it!”

Marg Collins

HIVE News

Students in year one participate in a variety of hands-on
learning experiences to encourage the development of fine motor, literacy
and numeracy skills.

We use technology to consolidate our
learning

Here Prep students are completing some gross and
fine motor activities. Rain won’t stop us! We sometimes have buddies from
year six to help us.

World of Maths

The World of Maths Roadshow visited Moreton Downs today.
Students from Yrs2-5 participated in a variety of hands on activities that
encouraged working in teams, mathematical thinking, problem solving and
reasoning.

Below are some comments from our students-

The World of Maths Roadshow was really fun. We got to
work in groups to solve some really difficult problems. It was useful to
bounce ideas off each other to help with the problem solving. –
Savannah P

I really the activity “Mouse in the House”. It was a
probability activity where we had to work out the best place for a mouse
trap. It was great! – Liam M

My favourite activity was “Escape” where we had to work
with a partner to unchain ourselves. It was different to be able to move
around and work together. – Christy H

They had lots of fun games and lots of cool maths
problems for us to solve. Mia Ross.

The puzzles were really fun to solve. Lily Woodward.

I thought that world of maths was really fun because you
got to solve problems that were easy and hard and you had to work together
in teams. Shaylea Howard.

My favourite part was that everyone had fun and all the
activities were so much fun it made me learn more. Emily Morris.

I thought it was really good because you got to play
games, talk to other classes and learn new fun things. Zoe Bloem.

I thought it was fun because we got to work with our
friends for the activities as a team and we helped each other. Aaliyah Reweti.

Maths

VIEW GALLERY

Maths

Click images to enlarge

Let’s Get Comfortable: News From J Block

Phonic /Whisper Phones

Whisper phones are a phone like device that allow
learners to hear themselves clearly while speaking softly into it. The
learner’s voice is magnified allowing them to hear their sounds and words
distinctly

We have been experimenting with our new Phonic/Whisper
phones down in J Block. I have seen them being used in other classrooms at
MDSS but have only just got round to making a set. The difficult bit is
getting out of Bunnings with the 2metre length of plastic pipe, the rest
was easy.

Students find that when they use the phones they are not
distracted by other students in the Guided reading group…

Music News

Choir News

All of our choir students are doing an exceptional job
this year. Just a reminder that Senior Choir rehearsals are held every
Tuesday at 11:00am and Junior Choir rehearsals are held every Wednesday at
1:30pm.

Recorder Band

Our Recorder Band students are rehearsing and performing
with skill and expertise – well done. Just a reminder that Junior Recorder
Band rehearses at 11:00am every Thursday and Advanced Recorder Band
rehearses at 8:10am on Fridays.

Instrumental Music Reminders

String Ensemble has now commenced. String Ensemble rehearsals are
held in the Hall from 3.00 - 4.00pm every Monday afternoon: All 2nd year students (if they began tuition in 2016), are
required to attend String Ensemble.

Well done to the students that attended the Beginner Instrumental
Workshop. As always, these students represented our school with
pride.

The photo above features a group of
proud and hardworking students enjoying the Workshop with their teacher,
Mr. Gynther.

Parents and students, thanks for your involvement in and
commitment to the school music program. Keep practicing hard: Your efforts
don’t go unnoticed!

Yours in Education,

Ms. Nizic
Classroom Music
Choirs
Recorder Band

Ms. Newton
Strings Program

Mr. Gynther
Multi-Instrument Program

Ms. Nizic
Classroom Music
Choirs
Recorder Band

Ms. Newton
Strings Program

Mr. Gynther
Multi-Instrument Program

Chappy News

FREE kids program 1st week of holidays.

It’s hard to believe it’s week 9 already and Easter
holidays are just around the corner! There’s a free Easter kids program
being held on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th from a local church, the Peace
Presbyterian, on Maine Street, Deception Bay (behind the pool) It’s for
kids in grades 1 to 6 from 9.30 to 12.30 and includes food! You can drop
the them off and go and have a coffee! You’ll find the flyer attached. I’ll
be there to help out so hope to see your kids!

Have a great Easter break and enjoy spending time with
your kids and I look forward to next term!

Reminder that there is a breakfast menu available Monday,
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday mornings from 8.20am – 8.40am.

The tuckshop is now open BOTH
breaks every day except Tuesday.

Last day for tuckshop for this term is Thursday 30th
March – Closed Friday 31st March it will reopen
on Wednesday 19th April.

Community News

Looking for something different to keep the kids
entertained these Easter school holidays? Book them in for some awesome
active fun at the Sunshine Coast Recreation Centre!

During the upcoming Easter school holidays, the Sunshine
Coast Recreation Centre will be running half day (3hr) and full-day (6hr)
adventure activity programs for children aged eight years and over and
their families. Either drop the kids off or stay and join in the fun!

All the instructor-led activities provide safe and
challenging new experiences to allow kids to get out of their comfort zone,
experience nature and have some fun. The activities are delivered by
fully-trained and accredited instructors using high-quality facilities and
equipment.

A temporary casual position exists for a Casual School
Crossing Supervisor at Moreton Downs SS, you may also need to relieve at
other schools.

The School Crossing Supervisor may be required to work five days per week in all
weather conditions. The hours of work for
School Crossing Supervisors are normally 1.5 hours a day and usually
comprise of one hour in the morning and ½ hour in the afternoon.

The successful applicant is dependent on:

The favourable outcome of a health assessment carried out by a
Government Medical Officer or a duly qualified Medical Practitioner
according to the guidelines in the “Notes for Medical Practitioner” on
the School Crossing Supervisor Scheme – Health Assessment Form; and

A Positive Notice Blue Card (This means you do not need to have a
blue card to apply for the position)

Applicants are required to advise in writing of any
charges that have been laid against them or any offence of which they have
been convicted of.

Applications addressing the selection criteria as listed
in the position description must be submitted in writing to the school.

If you are successful in your application for this
position, you can only commence employment with Transport and Main Roads if
you hold a current Blue Card or are renewing your Blue Card and have
submitted either a Blue Card Application form or Authorisation to Confirm
Current Blue Card form to the Commission for Children and Young People and
Child Guardian.

Address application to:

Private and Confidential
The Principal
Moreton Downs State School
Deception Bay QLD 4508
Applications close at 3.00pm on 18th April 2017
For further information please phone the Road Safety on 07 54521829

Helping Hands

Helping Hands Moreton Downs

Providing Before, After and Vacation.
Hours of Operation: Before School 6.30 to 9am
After School 2.30 to 6pm
Vacation Care 6.30 to 6pm

Vacation Care is fast approaching. So be sure to
come and book your early as places are limited. Some of our activities
included Chocolate making, going Ten Pin bowling and Easter craft day.

Parents please ensure your child has a hat when
they attend Helping Hands.

We are located in the hall. So if you require any
information please don’t hesitate to come to the hall and see us. All we
ask is that you don’t come right on bell time of a morning or afternoon as
these are very busy times at the service.

If you wish to join in the fun at Helping Hands, please
come and speak to the Staff and get an enrolment pack.